BUP Teachers' Day 2026
The BUP Teachers’ Day 2026 focused on issues like how to address, express and handle eco-emotions. The workshop gave tools to engage with emotions and build active hope - for yourself, your students and your community. The theoretical part was blended with interactivity, time for one's own thoughts and discussion. By collecting thoughts and reactions on a mood board, all participants were allowed to be involved equally. The event was held online on 23 March.
The workshop was led by Minerva Peijari, a Social psychologist specialised in environmental issues at the Finnish non-profit organisation Tunne ry-Känsla rf and Erika Silventoinen, Educational Developer at the Archipelago Sea Area Biosphere Reserve, Finland.
The workshop generated a huge interest, and the list of registrations was long. There were about 40 participants from various countries and BUP universities in the Baltic Sea Region.
Photo: Jametlene Reskp
Evaluation of the event
About a third of the participants filled in the response survey, and the result was very positive.
Some examples of this are the following:
On the question 'I found the overall content of the meeting relevant', the result was an average of 4.8/5.
The participants felt like they learned something new, giving this point a rating of 4.7/5.
The meeting was inspirational; the participants gave it a 4.6/5 rating for this aspect.
Quotes from the evaluation
“Everything was interesting and informative!”
“Everything was great.”
Organiser voice
“This is an important topic which would need a full day seminar or a course. But Minerva and Erika gave a valuable insight to the theme.”
Participant evaluations
- The participants gave the event high praise and a 4.6/5 overall rating.
- The background and examples connected to eco-emotions were something that the participants appreciated, giving these sections a 4.8/5 rating.
Voices of participants
Virginia Brenner Music - Participant from Södertörn University
Eco-emotions have become deeply important in both my research and teaching, especially as I reflect on how feelings drive/deter environmental activism and shape responses to climate change impacts. I see this as essential for teachers across all disciplinary fields, as growing uncertainty and climate-related fears increasingly affect everyone, everywhere. Going into this year’s BUP Teachers’ Day, I hoped to better understand eco-emotions, learn how to recognise and constructively handle eco-anxiety, gain practical tools and ways to build resilience in myself and others.
This was a very practical and interactive lecture. Through self-reflecting exercises, individual and collective, we explored practical tools, such as Eco-emotions Game and Learning Materials and model of eco-anxiety that helps recognise and process eco-emotions constructively but also helps understand how relevant and urgent this topic is, especially when learning about its impact on young people.
What personally resonated with me was self-compassion focusing. Sometimes, as teachers, parents, caregivers, we often forget to care for ourselves while supporting others. The three pillars of mindful self-compassion, discussed at the lecture, were a gentle reminder to include myself in that care as well.
Emily Knott - Participant from the University of Jyväskylä
I was happy to have the opportunity to participate in the BUP Teacher’s Day. I had never participated in one of the Teacher's Day events before, so I did not have any specific expectations beforehand. It was great to see many participants online and to interact with them during the session.
I appreciated making the time for my own self-reflection and hearing different points of view from the other participants. Afterwards, I had a good discussion with a colleague who also attended the session about the training day’s content.
The session complemented well my ongoing training to be one of our department’s student wellbeing advisors- a new responsibility for me at JYU. I think one last take-home from the session will be particularly helpful for me to remember- avoid trying to "fix" emotions in yourself and others, but accept them and learn from them!
